July trial on for man accused in Florida Keys bomb plot

MIAMI (AP) — A July trial date is on for a Florida man accused of conspiring to detonate a bomb at a Florida Keys beach.

A federal judge said Wednesday that 24-year-old Harlem Suarez remains on track for a July 11 trial in Key West. There have been several delays in the case.

The FBI says Suarez drew inspiration from the Islamic State terrorist organization, although no direct links have been revealed.

The FBI says Suarez told an informant he wanted to detonate a backpack bomb on a Key West beach. He was arrested last year after accepting an inert device from an FBI employee posing as an Islamic State member.

Suarez has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and supporting terrorism.